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Dentdale

Unfinished Business in Dentdale

Despite the atrocious weather in which the trains didn't run all day and police advised southerners to stay indoors, 7 people foolishly drove through the floods to Dent for a toughish ride and Dave's new venture, the easier alternative. Kev had called to say he couldn't make it and opted for the gym and a couple of pints of shandy instead.

Mark's second ride was truly a baptism of water and white water at that. Riding up the steep track signposted 'unsuitable for motors' I couldn't help thinking it was unsuitable for most things apart from ducks. The main stream next to the track was raging and the excess seemed to be in my boots, a phenomenon which was to continue for the next couple of hours. By the time we got onto the flatter track at the top which contours around to Whernside the rain had stopped and the wind was on our backs. The track however was not going to make the easy going it might be in the dry, lack of tread on my tyres made the next 4 miles or so a battle to stay upright on and off the bike. Nicky and Paul had slipping gears not helped by the endless gritty puddles and stream beds which we cycled and walked in and out of but eventually we reached the road.

The sleet had started again and we were at the top of a road back to Dent, turn left and a warm cafe awaited, turn right and we had another 18 miles offroad, more than half of which would be into the wind. After a short pause to do the mental arithmetic (2 hours for 5 miles, 18 miles left to go and only 5 hours of daylight) and consider the weather we turned left to whiz down the hill and back to Dent. This toughish ride will have to wait for a warmer drier day. Somewhat worryingly Dave's easier ride had not yet returned..…

Paul Curry

Mission Accomplished in Dentdale

As you've probably gathered from Paul's report, weather wise it wasn't the best of days for a trek over to Dentdale and this showed in the low attendance for our two rides and even Alan's walk which also started from Dent. Although a number of the regulars I'm sure were secretly considering the Easy Going alternative, as the start time arrived only Liz and I turned right on exiting the car park. We followed the road as far as Barth Bridge. Here we turned right onto the track which began our climb onto Frostrow Fells. This was quite a climb in the conditions, much more difficult than I experienced the week before during the reccy. The streams of last week were now raging torrents. Liz did well to keep smiling, never mind to keep cycling. Us reaching the summit coincided with the rain turning to sleet and the winds increasing in strength. We had a look over to Whernside to see if we could see any signs of the other group, little did we know by this time they were safe and snug drinking pots of tea in the Dent cafe! But we were enjoying ourselves weren't we Liz? It was sensible not to hang around at the summit though so we sped off. After carefully crossing small rivers and marshland, we joined Frostrow Lane which led us into Sedbergh just in time for lunch. We found a very hospitable cafe where all the other patrons very kindly left to allow us more room to spread out our wet gear and the staff continuously fed the fire with logs to aid the drying process. We probably broke the world record for the longest time to consume a toasted teacake and cup of tea.

Eventually we plucked up the courage to venture back into the great outdoors. On reaching Millthrop we joined the Dales Way bridleway. The River Dee, not surprisingly, was in flood making the ford at Brackensgill un-fordable, luckily there is a footbridge. From here it was tarmac all the way back to Dent, a total of twelve miles, not bad for an easy going ride, eh Paul?

Back at the car park the other group's cars had all gone, "they got round quick" we thought. The only recognisable face was that of Jess from the Walking Section. She was looking very sorry for herself, stood out in the rain on her own so Liz and I walked over to comfort her. After tickling her tummy, we made our way to the cafe where we found the rest of the walkers. In return for displaying our SOC Publicity Leaflets, I've been asked to mention the Stone Close Tea Rooms also do Bed and Breakfast (max. 5 I think) and the owner, a keen walker, is even willing to lead walks in the area (tel: 015396 25231). To show non-prejudice I ought to mention the other cafe was also very good about displaying our leaflets, handing out six since my visit the week before.

Thanks to Liz for her company. If Liz hadn't turned up I would have had to have gone on the twenty three miler with the others!!

Dave Neesam

Paul Curry / Dave Neesam

Last Modified: 7 May, 2003